A town centre taxi rank should be closed and altered to make it safer before someone is run over, councillors have warned. Concerns are mounting about the rank in Canvey High Street which is used by vehicles other than taxis as a short cut. Some motorists
Residents across the Braintree district could be facing a 5.49 per cent rise in their council tax. Braintree Council has announced a provisional final figure for this year's district portion of the council tax, which will be discussed by the full council
The ex-wife of child pervert Alan Huggins said handing him over to the police was the right thing to do. Huggins, 54, formerly of Cambridge Road, Canvey, was jailed for eight months after he pleaded guilty at Southend Crown Court to 21 charges of possessing
A major new £800,000 project will provide better customer services for residents across Tendring. That's the promise from council bosses, who have given the go-ahead for state-of-the-art technology to be brought in to replace out-moded telephone networks
Grants for patients with cancer, to help them meet extra costs they may face because of their illness, are being offered by Macmillan Cancer Relief. Last year Macmillan helped nearly 400 people in Essex and now people in the county living with cancer,
A frail pensioner who spent a week in hospital was discharged and taken home late to an empty flat to fend for herself overnight. Janet Molyneaux, 81, had been treated for breathing difficulties and a heart problem at Colchester General Hospital. She
A babysitter who broke the left leg of a seven-week-old girl after using cannabis has been jailed for two years at Basildon Crown Court. Anthony Hurst, 22, was under the influence of the drug while he was looking after the tot at her home in Balmoral
Police and RSPCA officers have launched an investigation after two dogs were shot and beaten to death and dumped in a hedgerow. Gruesome find - RSPCA inspectors Jim Farr and Will Mitchell at the site in Ray Lane, Ramsey where the two dogs were found.
Police have called off their search for a missing Benfleet man after he was found in a London. Concerns were raised after John McFayden, who has a history of mental health problems, went missing from his Bilton Road home a week ago. The 62-year-old was
South Essex darts star Steve Maish is getting ready to invade the United States after winning the Budweiser UK Open in Scotland at the weekend. The "Magic Man" cast a spell over more than 150 other players before beating Steve Parsons 2-0 in the final
Campaigners have lost their battle to halt plans to build three new houses on a village site. A total of 40 people wrote in letters opposing the scheme for The Path in Great Bentley. Tendring Council also received a petition with 36 signatures from residents
A furious family were left shivering on the coldest day of the year after an insurance company refused to get their heating fixed immediately Paul Mulvey - "We can have a bath, but we have to sit here freezing to death." Picture: SEANA HUGHES Paul Mulvey
High-flying Hadleigh Forum A held on to third in the Southend and District Premier with a 6-3 win over Rawreth A. Fred Dove was the hat-trick hero for Forum but he had to work hard -- especially in his game against the otherwise unbeaten George Reeves
Council chiefs today decided to seal off a public beach because of fears travellers could invade the area. No entry - a Closed notice bars the way to Shoebury East Beach in case evicted travellers decide to set up camp there Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL Southend
Plans for a new £5.3 million community hospital in mid-Essex will be unveiled to the public next week. The old St Michael's Hospital in Rayne Road, Braintree, closed in 2001 so the site could be redeveloped for a new community hospital and housing. Witham
Furious residents along the North Essex coast have launched a new attack on weapons testing work being carried out at the New Ranges in Shoebury and on Foulness. Complaints over explosions which rocked homes along the coast near Clacton have been officially
Police today issued an urgent warning after date rape drugs were stolen from an unattended bike. The 60 Rohypnol tablets had been left in a bag on the bike outside a Clacton supermarket in the town centre. The owner, who suffers from diabetes, had only
The owners of a site earmarked for a hotel, leisure centre and restaurant complex have been given three more years to get their scheme off the ground. The Carroll Group which owns the 12-acre site in Mountnessing has been granted another period of outline
Campaigning residents in Billericay have compiled a petition against controversial proposals to close a section of Norsey Road in an attempt to boost safety. Highway chiefs at Basildon District Council and Essex County Council are considering carrying
A baby suspected to have meningitis was today recovering in hospital. The 18-month-old child was taken to Basildon Hospital with a rash and high temperature. The results of tests to establish whether it is meningitis are being awaited. A Primary Care
Pensioner power has won the day in a battle to make a dangerous bend safe. Betty Becker, 91, left, found it was almost impossible for her and her friends from Great Mead retirement flats to cross busy Frobisher Way, in Shoebury, to the Asda supermarket
Colchester United supporters queued in freezing temperatures to get their hands on precious cup tickets yesterday. U's fans queuing for tickets for their cup clash Picture: STEVE BRADING Scores of U's fans lined-up outside the Layer Road stadium in a
A former army chef has been banned from driving for three years for drink driving. Jody Latus, 23, appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court yesterday where he admitted driving while over the limit. He had also admitted driving without insurance, failing
Swimmers will be in danger of catching a dangerous gastric bug if thousands of pounds worth of work is not carried out at Castle Point's top mainland pool. Runnymede Pool in Thundersley needs £41,195 to replace the deterorating filtration system the council's
Alun Armstrong will not go head-to-head with his Ipswich Town team-mates when Bradford City visit Portman Road on Valentine's Day. The Blues marksman extended his loan move with the Valley Parade outfit to a second month yesterday -but will watch on the
Proposals to form a new wildlife habitat as compensation for a major port development will be discussed next week. Harwich International Port wants to create an alternative haven for birds if it gets the go-ahead for a new container terminal at Bathside
Chelmsford Borough Council is set, like Essex County Council, to keep its council tax rise for 2004-05 to less than five per cent. The council's executive is being recommended next Wednesday (Feb 4) to settle on a tax for borough purposes of £130.62 at
Another weapon has been made available to Essex Police in its fight to combat the menace of bogus callers. Working in partnership with Help the Aged, Trading Standards and Neighbourhood Watch, Essex Police has access to 50 Seniorlink communication devices
Staff and pupils were today celebrating after being praised by the country's top school inspector. Delighted - Barstable School's headteacher Jonathon Oddy Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL Barstable School, in Timberlog Close, Basildon, has been highlighted in
Alan Milsom beat the cold snap to win Sunday's Gloucester Park Open with a cracking silverfish haul. There had been fears that the sharp overnight frost might limit catches, but Milson shone through with a whopping 24lb 1oz 8dr total. And more than two
Castle Point MP Bob Spink has added his voice to growing criticism British forces were poorly equipped to fight in Iraq. Speaking in the House of Commons, the Tory MP called for a debate on the lack of protective equipment provided to troops and support
Southend Airport is currently considering proposals from several airlines interested in flying from its runways. The restoration of passenger services at Southend was made possible by a landmark council decision to allow the relocation of an instrument
The magistrates' court in Basildon is set for a £300,000 refurbishment to introduce pioneering new facilities. Up to date - Basildon Court is to undergo a £300,000 refurbishment, with new facilities to lessen stress for families Picture: MAXINE CLARKE
Southend United defender Leon Cort admitted he was pleased to have helped the struggling Shrimpers secure a rare clean sheet during last night's drab 0-0 draw with York City at Roots Hall. No through road - Southend striker Leon Constantine is beaten
Gritting lorries were today gearing up for another night on the roads of south Essex as weathermen predict more snow and ice. County council gritters were out in force early today, but tonight could be worse. All white - Hadleigh Castle looked as if it
Pupils got in the groove for a dance class with a difference at Maldon's Plume School. Toby Gunn visited the Mill Road campus of the performing arts college to give a special workshop for boys only. The 19 year seven and eight lads made up their own routines
Things are looking promising for Southend's struggling breast screening unit as the charity gets ready to set minimum donations for treatment. From next week the Lady McAdden Breast Screening Unit, also known as Bust, will asking patients for minimum
Half of the motorists who use a notorious Canvey road break the speed limit, a new survey has revealed. The figures emerged after residents insisted on speed checks in Smallgains Avenue, Canvey. A 24-hour study by council officers found half of the vehicles
Pensioners over 70 in Billericay and Wickford entitled to a fare-paid concessionary bus pass will be hit by a hike in the annual cost. Councillors at a Basildon Council meeting replaced the three-tier pricing system which saw three aged bands over the
A furious family were left shivering on the coldest day of the year after an insurance company refused to get their heating fixed immediately Paul Mulvey - "We can have a bath, but we have to sit here freezing to death." Picture: SEANA HUGHES Paul Mulvey
About 80 new jobs will be coming to Witham as a company already based in the town restructures. Tyco Electronics' energy division is closing down part of its plant in Aldridge, West Midlands and moving up to 60 jobs to its subsidiary, Crompton Industrial
Sruggling Southend United secured a rare goal-less draw against York City in an uneventful encounter at a freezing Roots Hall last night. Coming through - man-of-the-match Mark Gower evades a York challenge Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL The Blues battled hard
Pupils at a Canvey school were involved in a series of activities based on recycling as part of the Waste Buster scheme. Waste not, want not - Jamie Wallis and Lucy Quinton, both 12, with Essex County Council's waste education officer Jo Gill, centre
I am looking for descendants of Esther Howard who was born in Thorrington about 1840. She worked as a tailoress in Reigate in Surrey where she married George Smith Mackie in 1868 abbronnie@aol.com
